A tragic accident involving a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC) at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, has claimed one life and left four others injured.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment.
According to the statement, LASTMA officials, led by the General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, arrived promptly at the scene and coordinated rescue operations. Five victims were extricated from the wreckage, but one succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash, while the other four sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the J5 Ford bus, carrying pepper and other perishable goods, experienced brake failure while traveling at high speed, leading to the collision with the Mercedes truck.
Emergency response teams, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police Force, and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), worked alongside LASTMA to manage the situation and ensure the victims received immediate medical attention at the General Hospital on Lagos Island.
In a bid to restore normalcy, LASTMA officials cleared the accident site, removing the damaged vehicles and scattered goods to ease traffic flow along the bridge.
While expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, Bakare-Oki emphasized the importance of road safety, especially during the festive season. He urged drivers, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to avoid speeding and ensure their vehicles, especially braking systems, are in optimal condition before embarking on any journey.
LASTMA reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of road users and pledged continued collaboration with relevant agencies to prevent avoidable accidents on Lagos roads.
